Personal Pick: The National

I always like to think that I keep myself up to date with the latest musical trends but inevitably some bands will slip through the net. Therefore, come November/December time I keep a keen eye trained on the lower echelons of the end of year lists in search of any hidden gems. It was through this method in fact that The National first caught my attention with their fourth LP ‘Boxer’ hitting no.30 in Q magazine’s Best Of 2007 list, whilst influential American indie website Pitchfork placed the album at no.17. Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, this indie-rock four piece have released four albums and two EPs to date beginning with 2001’s self-titled ‘The National’ eventually and most recently their ‘Virginia’ EP in 2008.

Their music is deliberately downbeat taking in a wide sphere of influences from Joy Division to Bruce Springsteen to create a sound laden with sparse instrumental arrangements and morbid vocals. Think ‘Hospital Beds’ by Cold War Kids but with slightly more understatement. Lyrically, lead singer Matt Berninger’s social commentary extracts maximum misery from the concept of broken US suburbia where middle class families are occupied by misogynistic husbands, bored housewives and wavering children. On paper this may all seem a bit unremarkable but if you take the time to get to know The National you will find them one of the most rewarding indie-rock bands of recent times.

If you’re looking for somewhere to start, for instant classics ‘Mistaken For Strangers’ and ‘Slow Show’ alone, ‘Boxer’ probably represents your best point of entry. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous though, 2003’s ‘Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers’ holds my favourite song by The National ‘Slipping Husband’.

The National can be found on Myspace here

‘Boxer’ is currently available for £8.98 from Amazon.co.uk here